Scrapbook
Hi, this is my Scrapbook - partly because 'scrapbook' has become an underrated word to me. Essentially it is a blog. My Blog. Calling it a 'scrapbook' makes me feel better about it though. No matter, here it is. Full of miscellaneous musical madness.
Thursday 27th August 2009, 10:26am
Stephen King
My dear children, if there is one book you must read then make it Stephen King's "The Stand". The Complete and Uncut Edition, of course. At 1421 pages, its only fault is that it is too short.
I find myself missing The Stand, even though I am 200 pages well into my next book. So, I find myself watching the TV mini series - surprisingly, it's pretty good. It misses a lot from the book, and chops around parts of the original story, yet it does the book credit. I really can't emphasize this more, you must read this book.
(By the way, as I write this, I'm listening to Hanson's Mmmbop... you knew I was cool really... "Mmm bop, ba duba dop..." ).
Friday 9th January 2009, 1:43pm
Fairies... & Josef Suk
Josef Suk (1874-1935), Czech composer and violinist, composed "Pohádka - A Fairy Tale" - a suite of four movements in the year 1900. Suk was a star pupil of Antonín Dvorák and later married his fourth child, Ottilie Dvorák.
Well, after having heard some of Suk's music before, I was a bit unsure - his music has not always struck a chord with me. None the less, I kept an open-mind when I became aquainted with the CD a month or so ago, and recently listened to this Fairy Tale Suite from beginning to end and then once more. I became captivated almost immediately. It was addictive, the same sort of feeling you get when listening to a Shostakovich symphony or an orchestral work by Tchaikovsky. A pleasant surprise, to say the least.
The four movements tell the story of an old Serbian folk tale and Suk takes you through it, every step of the way. The suite begins with a simple melodic line played by cello and sparse lower string accompaniments. This is followed by the entry of woodwind and upper strings, before moving into a colourful violin solo with arpeggiated harp accompaniments, and this leads you nicely into the rest of the first movement. The second movement has a lively, exuberant feel, with a rhythmically upbeat melody (reminding me, for whatever reason, of some elements of Borodin's 2nd Symphony?). The more sombre melody lines of the third movement along with the rich chromatic harmonies are beautiful in creating a sense of poignancy. The fourth movement provides an excellent finale with triumphant, exciting passages against slower more tranquil passages. Strongly contrasting dynamics and textures build the suspense and the piece is rounded off rather sensitively by the string section.
All in all, listening to it is a wonderful, delightful experience; rather like a box of chocolates for your ears. Suk creates a magical work to be treasured. I would wholly recommend a listen to this Suite to anyone.
Sunday 12th October 2008, 5:14pm
Musical dilemma: Violin vs Guitar
Ruth & Violin
Favourite key(s): G major, D major, A major, E major
Least favourite key: E-flat minor. Just WHY exactly?
Most enjoyable thing I've played: Anything by Mozart, probably K.526; a Violin Sonata in A major. Mozart is perfect.
Least enjoyable thing I've played: Haha. Probably not allowed to say it on here! I was forced into it.
Most challenging thing about playing violin: Not having frets; guitarists cheat somewhat. Also... the Franco-Belgian bow hold. Please let me choose a bow hold that suits my hand, and others to theirs.
Ruth & Guitar
Favourite key(s): A... no I take that back...! I don't want a favourite key, I want to appreciate all the keys!
Least favourite key: ...except E-flat minor. It's not instrument specific when it comes to E-flat minor.
Most enjoyable thing I've played: Keith Urban's "You're My Better Half". And major chords played in comical chromatic sequences.
Least enjoyable thing I've played: Probably a cheesy Eagles song I learnt the chords to ('Hotel California'). I learnt it out of choice - just because I can! Ah, you don't know freedom until you willingly learn a piece that you don't want to learn! (No disrespect to The Eagles, or Eagles fans... I like The Eagles.)
Most challenging thing about playing guitar: Fingers not doing what you tell them to, or not doing what you know that they can do!
Verdict
Both instruments are very versatile, though ultimately I believe the guitar allows me the most creativity for composition. For the time being, playing the violin obviously comes more naturally to me, yet the guitar gives me the most scope for a challenge in the next few months. I like both instruments equally at the moment (i.e. they both come with an equal amount of frustration!). Only time will tell on this one. I think I'll always consider myself a violinist at heart.
Hi, this is my Scrapbook - partly because 'scrapbook' has become an underrated word to me. Essentially it is a blog. My Blog. Calling it a 'scrapbook' makes me feel better about it though. No matter, here it is. Full of miscellaneous musical madness.
Thursday 27th August 2009, 10:26am
Stephen King
My dear children, if there is one book you must read then make it Stephen King's "The Stand". The Complete and Uncut Edition, of course. At 1421 pages, its only fault is that it is too short.
I find myself missing The Stand, even though I am 200 pages well into my next book. So, I find myself watching the TV mini series - surprisingly, it's pretty good. It misses a lot from the book, and chops around parts of the original story, yet it does the book credit. I really can't emphasize this more, you must read this book.
(By the way, as I write this, I'm listening to Hanson's Mmmbop... you knew I was cool really... "Mmm bop, ba duba dop..." ).
Friday 9th January 2009, 1:43pm
Fairies... & Josef Suk
Josef Suk (1874-1935), Czech composer and violinist, composed "Pohádka - A Fairy Tale" - a suite of four movements in the year 1900. Suk was a star pupil of Antonín Dvorák and later married his fourth child, Ottilie Dvorák.
Well, after having heard some of Suk's music before, I was a bit unsure - his music has not always struck a chord with me. None the less, I kept an open-mind when I became aquainted with the CD a month or so ago, and recently listened to this Fairy Tale Suite from beginning to end and then once more. I became captivated almost immediately. It was addictive, the same sort of feeling you get when listening to a Shostakovich symphony or an orchestral work by Tchaikovsky. A pleasant surprise, to say the least.
The four movements tell the story of an old Serbian folk tale and Suk takes you through it, every step of the way. The suite begins with a simple melodic line played by cello and sparse lower string accompaniments. This is followed by the entry of woodwind and upper strings, before moving into a colourful violin solo with arpeggiated harp accompaniments, and this leads you nicely into the rest of the first movement. The second movement has a lively, exuberant feel, with a rhythmically upbeat melody (reminding me, for whatever reason, of some elements of Borodin's 2nd Symphony?). The more sombre melody lines of the third movement along with the rich chromatic harmonies are beautiful in creating a sense of poignancy. The fourth movement provides an excellent finale with triumphant, exciting passages against slower more tranquil passages. Strongly contrasting dynamics and textures build the suspense and the piece is rounded off rather sensitively by the string section.
All in all, listening to it is a wonderful, delightful experience; rather like a box of chocolates for your ears. Suk creates a magical work to be treasured. I would wholly recommend a listen to this Suite to anyone.
Sunday 12th October 2008, 5:14pm
Musical dilemma: Violin vs Guitar
Ruth & Violin
Favourite key(s): G major, D major, A major, E major
Least favourite key: E-flat minor. Just WHY exactly?
Most enjoyable thing I've played: Anything by Mozart, probably K.526; a Violin Sonata in A major. Mozart is perfect.
Least enjoyable thing I've played: Haha. Probably not allowed to say it on here! I was forced into it.
Most challenging thing about playing violin: Not having frets; guitarists cheat somewhat. Also... the Franco-Belgian bow hold. Please let me choose a bow hold that suits my hand, and others to theirs.
Ruth & Guitar
Favourite key(s): A... no I take that back...! I don't want a favourite key, I want to appreciate all the keys!
Least favourite key: ...except E-flat minor. It's not instrument specific when it comes to E-flat minor.
Most enjoyable thing I've played: Keith Urban's "You're My Better Half". And major chords played in comical chromatic sequences.
Least enjoyable thing I've played: Probably a cheesy Eagles song I learnt the chords to ('Hotel California'). I learnt it out of choice - just because I can! Ah, you don't know freedom until you willingly learn a piece that you don't want to learn! (No disrespect to The Eagles, or Eagles fans... I like The Eagles.)
Most challenging thing about playing guitar: Fingers not doing what you tell them to, or not doing what you know that they can do!
Verdict
Both instruments are very versatile, though ultimately I believe the guitar allows me the most creativity for composition. For the time being, playing the violin obviously comes more naturally to me, yet the guitar gives me the most scope for a challenge in the next few months. I like both instruments equally at the moment (i.e. they both come with an equal amount of frustration!). Only time will tell on this one. I think I'll always consider myself a violinist at heart.
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